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Some of the most popular picks by visitors include the standard 60-minute bay cruise as well as some of our sunset cruises. There are so many great San Francisco bay tours and boat cruises that it can be hard to find the perfect one. Napa is about a three hour drive from San Francisco, while Sonoma is about two hours north of the city.
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Cruise car involved in San Francisco crash.
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Wine Tasting on the Bay
The Dinner Dance Cruise is one of their most popular cruises and it runs a few nights a week (usually around the weekends in the winter and most nights in the summer). The Escape from the Rock cruise follows the same path as the SF Bay Cruises for the first 60 minutes. The difference with this one is that it offers an additional loop around Alcatraz as well as more stories about this famous island and its inmates. They first head along the northern shoreline, then under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz, past Treasure Island, under the Bay Bridge and then back to Fisherman's Wharf.
Find Your Experience
In the summer, each company offers about a dozen boat cruises. These San Francisco boat cruises leave from Fisherman's Wharf several times a day. Crime podcast lovers and history buffs can’t miss a tour of Alcatraz, the infamous federal prison where high-profile criminals like Al Capone served their time. Originally, Alcatraz was the first lighthouse and fort built by the United States on the West Coast. Now, it’s a National Park where all can take in its history and rich views of the Bay Area from its lookout points. Patient bird-watchers will find colonies of gulls, egrets, and other species living on the island, too.
Twilight OR Sunset Cruise (Depending on the Season)
When you arrive, you will line up for the cruise and those in front will board first. I've been on the water with both companies several times and they both offer great service. We are bringing the historic Harbor Queen to Benicia for a limited run of sightseeing cruises May 18 and 19, to coincide with the Harold Bray Monument Dedication Weekend.
Whale Watching
We take A LOT of pride in our vessels, keeping them clean, safe and in top operating condition at all times. So come aboard and create the best memories of your time in San Francisco.
San Francisco City Cruises Blog
They do offer a drink which is included in your ticket price. There are also fewer people on this boat, so you can get to know people a little better. In 2.5 hours, you will keep an eye out for whale activity and sightings.
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You will get some great views of the sunset as long as the fog has not decided to make its way into the bay before the sun goes down. This is a really fun cruise and worth the extra money for a delightful experience. My second recommend for San Francisco bay tours is the Bridge to Bridge Cruise.
This one is a good one if you missed your chance to get tickets to Alcatraz or if you want to see it closer up from the water. One benefit to the headsets with Red and White is that they offer narration in several languages, so this is something to consider if English is your second language. If you are looking for something a little fancier, you will find a wonderful Dinner Dance Cruise offered by Hornblower. The only cruise with award winning, complimentary multilingual headphone audio in 16 languages.
You'll pass Sausalito, Angel Island and take some time cruising past Alcatraz Island. These San Francisco bay tours are offered by both the Gold and Blue Fleet and the Red and White Fleet. It offers a great overview of the SF Bay both from a sightseeing and history perspective. As I mentioned in my intro, this is by far the most popular cruise and a go to for many first-time visitors. Founded in 1892, the historic Red and White is legendary for its premiere San Francisco cruises. As a local, family owned business Red and White is committed to the environmental sustainability of San Francisco Bay and community education.
Walk along the trails and bring a picnic to enjoy while you’re at the park, or stop inside the Boathouse for a coffee or a quick snack. Powell Street connects many of San Francisco’s districts, including Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf. Hop on a cable car at the intersection of Powell Street and Market Street, where you can tackle those pesky hills the easy way while taking in views of the city’s historic buildings.
Beyond the classic cable cars running widely through San Francisco, several modes of public transportation are popular in the city. For example, the BART can help you get from the airport into the city. The Muni is one public transit option, which includes bus, metro, and some cable car options, mostly above ground. You’ll also find taxis, Lyfts, and Ubers aplenty in San Francisco. Let San Francisco cruises be your introduction to Silicon Valley, where tech startups and innovators increasingly flock year after year to make it big. Support this local ice creamery to satisfy your sweet tooth while you’re exploring the city.
Though the Golden Gate Bridge was completed less than 100 years ago in 1937, it feels like a quintessential, ageless part of San Francisco. Stop in at this waterfront marketplace, home to shops, restaurants, games, and even an aquarium called The Aquarium of the Bay. Stroll along the pier, grab a bite from a local vendor, and look out for California sea lions, who sometimes settle on the docks. On New Year's Eve and Fourth of July, dozens of San Francisco boat tours head out on the water to watch the fireworks shows.